Bereavement

In times of bereavement

In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days:

  • Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
  • Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral
  • Make the necessary funeral arrangements
  • Register the death

    If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.

    You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors. You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the Gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  • Arrange the funeral

    The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

    Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.

  • Funeral directors

    Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:

    National Association of Funeral Directors
    Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

    These organisations have codes of practice, they must give you a price list when asked. Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. 

    The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.

  • Funeral costs

    Funeral costs can include:

    – funeral director fees
    – things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
    – local authority burial or cremation fees

    Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.

    More information can be found on the ‘Get help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment)’ page on the Gov.uk website.

Bereavement support and resources

  • At a loss

    Allows you to find support appropriate to your situation, in our local area.

    Website
    www.ataloss.org

  • Survivors of bereavement by suicide

    Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exist to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide.

    Website
    www.uksobs.org

  • Hope Again

    Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone. Hope Again provides children and young people somewhere to turn to when someone dies.

    Website
    www.hopeagain.org.uk

  • Childhood Bereavement Network

    The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is the hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK.

    Website
    www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk